Bishkek to Ashgabat

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Booking Type Instant booking
duration 26 days
tour type Small group Request as private
age requirement 15-99 yrs
max group size 12
guiding method Fully guided
Tour Code BM-18480
Footprint Carbonneutral CO₂ emissions resulting from all trips on Bookmundi will be offset via investments in carbon reduction projects.
Operated in English

Starts Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Ends Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

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HIGHLIGHTS Download trip notes

Central Asia is a fascinating and unique mix of ancient Silk Road culture, post-soviet culture and striving to redefine nations post independence. Geographically and for a time historically, it is the real centre of Asia
The much-photographed Registan in Samarkand is one of the true pinnacles of Islamic architecture. You'll be wowed by the scale, grandeur and beauty of the monuments to iconic figures such as Tamerlane and the Persian influenced madressas, mosques and mausoleums
Experience for yourself the legend that is Central Asian hospitality - there's really nothing like being welcomed into a local home or yurt for a meal, chatting with stall holders at bazaars or simply marvelling at the sights alongside locals
Kyrgyzstans mountains are its monuments and its majesty. The landscapes here will stay with you long after the journey is over
Marvel at the beautiful Son-Kol Lake, where in mid-summer you may see flocks of sheep, goats and herds of horses watched over by nomadic herdsmen and their families
Stay overnight in a yurt lakeside and live like the locals have for centuries in these portable, felt lined traditional tents
Reflect on the important role horses have played in the traditional Kyrgyz nomadic life style while witnessing horseback sports like odarysh (wrestling on horseback), tiyin-enish (where riders try to pick up coins at full gallop) or kok-baru (goat polo)
Explore sprawling ruins of Mary, Merv and others with a local guide and contemplate these remnants of empires that once ruled this vast land
Witness the eternal flames of the Darvaza Crater, aka the 'Door to Hell' as you camp nearby – one of the strangest, most mesmerising geological oddities on earth
Ashgabat rose from the devastation of an earthquake in 1948 and has enjoyed a surreal and futuristic makeover
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The "Bishkek To Ashgabat" trip starts in Bishkek and ends in Ashgabat. The "Bishkek To Ashgabat" trip is a city sightseeing trip that takes 26 days. You will travel through Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan and visit Osh, Mary, Samarkand and 10 other destinations. This is a guided small group trip that includes accommodation, transport, meals and others.

Be entranced by the beauty and the wonder of Central Asia on this overland journey from the capital of Kyrgyzstan through the heartland of Uzbekistan to the forgotten yet futuristic Ashgabat. Take in the tranquil landscape of Son-Kol Lake, watch for wild boar and deer around Chychkan Gorge, hike up the sacred Sulumain-too Mountain in historic Osh, and get your fill of mosques and museums in Samarkand. Venture into the mysterious Turkmenistan, camp out by the 'gate of hell', and explore Ashgabat with architectures from a scifi movie. Abounding with ancient culture, divine natural beauty, intriguing relics, and welcoming people, this is a journey that will leave you eager to discover more of Central Asia.

ITINERARY Expand All

Day 1: Bishkek
Day 2: Bishkek
Day 3: Issyk-Kul Lake
Day 4: Issyk-Kul Lake
Day 5: Song-Kol Lake (3016 metres)
Day 6: Kyzyl-Oi
Day 7: Suusamyr Valley/Chychkan River/Karakul
Day 8: Osh
Day 9: Osh
Day 10: Border Crossing/Andijan/Tashkent
Day 11: Tashkent
Day 12: Bukhara
Day 13: Bukhara
Day 14: Samarkand
Day 15: Samarkand
Day 16: Tashkent
Day 17: Tashkent
Day 18: Tashkent/Overnight Train
Day 19: Khiva
Day 20: Darvaza
Day 21: Yerbent – Ashgabat
Day 22: Ashgabat
Day 23: Mary
Day 24: Merv – Mary
Day 25: Ashgabat
Day 26: Ashgabat

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Accommodation

Guesthouse/Homestay (2 night), Hotel (18 nights), Yurt/Camp (4 nights), Overnight train (1 night)

Meals

24 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 8 Dinners

Transport

Private Bus , Metro , High Speed Train , Overnight Train

Guide

An expert tour leader

Included Activities

Bishkek - City Tour
Shamsy Valley - Burana tower
Tokmak - Kyrgyz family visit and home-cooked lunch
Issyk-Kul Lake - Yurt workshop
Issyk-Kul Lake - Eagle Hunter Visit
Uzgen - Uzgen Minaret & Complex
Osh - Sulaiman-Too Mountain
Osh - National Historical and Archaeological Museum Complex
Tashkent - Chorsu Bazaar
Tashkent - Amir Timur Square
Bukhara - Sitorai Mohi Hosa Palace
Bukhara - Ismail Samani Mausoleum
Bukhara - Kalon Mosque
Bukhara - Ark Fortress
Samarkand - Leader-led orientation walk
Samarkand - Bibi-Khanym Mosque
Samarkand - Registan
Samarkand - Shakh-I-Zinda
Samarkand - Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
Samarkand - Plov cooking demonstration & family visit
Tashkent - Chorsu Bazaar
Tashkent - Khast Imom Complex & Moyie Mubarek Library Museum
Tashkent - Amir Timur Square
Tashkent - City tour
Tashkent - Metro tour
Khiva - Islom Hoja Minaret & Medressa
Khiva - Juma Mosque
Khiva - Tosh-Hovli Palace
Khiva - Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum
Khiva - Kuhna Ark
Darvaza - "Door to Hell" Crater
Yerbent - Village visit
Ashgabat - National Museum of Turkmenistan
Ashgabat - Nisa ruins
Ashgabat - Anau ruins
Ashgabat - Independence Monument
Ashgabat - Neutrality Arch
Ashgabat - Turkmenbashy Ruhi Mosque & Family Mausoleum of the First President of Turkmenistan
Ashgabat - Ertugrul Gazi Mosque
Ashgabat - Akhal-Teke horse Hippodrome
Mary - Abiverd ruins
Merv - Big & Small Kizkala
Merv - Erk Kala & Gayur Kala
Merv - Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum

WHAT'S EXCLUDED

Any international flights to Bishkek and from Ashgabat are not included in this price. We always recommend that you arrive 1 day prior to your tour starting date.
Travel insurance is not included in this Bishkek to Ashgabat tour. Travel insurance is mandatory to buy. World Nomads' travel insurance has been designed by travelers for travelers.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

This tour has not received any customer reviews yet. However, you can expect a Premier This travel specialist is consistently delivering tours which receive customer ratings above 4.5 on average. tour and service level as the travel specialist who runs it has received 189 reviews for other tours with an average 4.6 rating.

REQUEST A PRIVATE, CUSTOMIZABLE DEPARTURE By design, this is a group tour. You can however request a private, customized version of this tour for yourself or your private group of people. Private departures are usually more expensive, but come with these benefits:

Personal Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.
Protected Travel within your own bubble.
Professional Access our Travel Specialists' insider knowledge.
Privacy Enjoy a tour focused solely on you or your travel group.

Request a private and/or personalized departure To design a private tour, we'll ask you some more information in the following steps.

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GOOD TO KNOW Download trip notes

CANCELLATION

No additional cancellation fees apply for this Bishkek to Ashgabat tour. You can cancel the tour up to 58 days prior departure and avoid paying the full amount, but your deposit paid is non-refundable. No refund applies for cancellations within 57 days of departure.

Payment

For any tour departures within 15 June 2024, full payment is required. For tours that depart later than 15 June 2024, a deposit is required to confirm this tour, and the remaining balance will be charged 57 days before trip departure.

Travel Insurance

Bishkek to Ashgabat tour requires that you have adequate and valid travel insurance covering medical and personal accidents, including repatriation costs and emergency evacuation. World Nomads offers travel insurance for independent travelers and intrepid families.

Visa

For this Bishkek to Ashgabat tour getting the required visa(s) is the responsibility for each individual traveller, as visa requirements vary depending on your nationality. We recommend to check with your local embassies representing the countries that you are traveling to, as part of this itinerary.

Is this trip right for you

Central Asia is a remote destination, perfect for intrepid travellers in the true sense of the word! You will venture well away from cities, right off the beaten track and be able to immerse yourself in local food, life and culture.
There is one night of camping on this trip. This is, of course, all part of your adventure in the Karakum Desert. Sleeping bags, mattresses and tents are provided, but there are no facilities at the campsite.
Accommodation may on occassion be more basic than what you are used to in homestays, guesthouses and yurt stay. Shower and toilet facilities will be limited in some places and nonexistent in others. While the comfort level won't always be high, the rewards of living in true local style in this far-out part of the world are immeasurable.
This is an overland journey, so there will be some very long days of travelling and driving, often over rough terrain. This can be tiring at times and will require a great deal of patience at others, especially at border crossings.
What Kyrgyzstan lacks in 'sights' compared to the Silk Road monuments and old towns of Uzbekistan, it makes up for in alpine landscapes, opportunities for interaction with local families and plenty of time spent on the road or outdoors exploring natural surroundings.
Tourism is strictly controlled in Turkmenistan, with Letters of Invitation needed in advance in order to apply for your visa (which you can then get on arrival) and guides tending to be protective of what tourists see and fiercely proud of their nation and its leaders. Those used to more freedom of exploration and tour guides with a more global perspective may find their experience here different from in other destinations. Please see the ‘Passport and visas’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.

COVID VACCINATION POLICY

Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is no longer mandatory on departures after 1st January 2023. Nonetheless, all travellers are strongly advised to be vaccinated as a safety measure to protect themselves and others on the tour. This policy excludes all Polar trips and select adventure cruises, where testing and vaccination are required.

Also, proof of vaccination may still be required at specific entry points or by the airlines. Therefore, please make sure to check all the travel requirements carefully before travelling.

COVID-19 Safety Measures

This trip incorporates the following COVID-19 measures:

This tour has received the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Safe Travels stamp, which provides travellers with assurance that COVID-19 health and hygiene global standardised protocols have been adopted.
Hygiene and safety guidelines will be followed to ensure your well being is looked after during travels.

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